"I cannot begin to describe the feeling of triumph and elation when I crested that pass. I stood on a saddle between two peaks marveling at the beauty before me, knowing that I could do whatever I put my mind to from that moment on. And even though I still struggled at times on the rest of the trip, I knew in my mind that it was nothing compared to what I had triumphed over on that pass. A piece of inhibition had broken free inside me, and I was faced with the revelation that I could do absolutely anything I put my mind to." - Elias Hudson, Outward Bound alumni
This 15-day mountaineering course will take you through the highest terrain in Colorado.
The Continental Divide marks the decision point for water as it either flows down to the east toward the Gulf of Mexico, or it flows down to the west to the Pacific. On this course you’ll travel along this “backbone of America.” Unlike mountain runoff (which only flows down), you’ll be working your way higher using mountaineering techniques such as fixed lines, climbing and scrambling, and utilizing ice axes or crampons. Far away from civilization, you’ll find how close you can get to others as you work as a team on this expedition.
NOTE: For the health and safety of students and staff in the COVID-19 pandemic, students may be required to travel to course start by private transportation. Please work directly with your Course Advisor for your course for the most up-to-date and regionally-focused travel options. All students and staff must provide a current negative COVID-19 viral test result before arrival to course and/or consent to having a COVID-19 test administered at course start. Outward Bound requires students and staff to follow COVID-19 protocols for 14 days prior to course start and while traveling including physical distancing, wearing a mask in public, and frequent and thorough handwashing.For complete “Health and Safety Practices for Outward Bound Expeditions,” click here.
This course starts within the next week. Please call us at 866-467-7651 to assess the possibility of applying for this course!
Classic Courses
No two Outward Bound expeditions are ever quite the same. Every crew is unique, every route is distinct and every adventure is dynamic. But one thing remains the same. On each course students rise to meet exhilarating, natural challenges in some of the country’s wildest places—finding strength and determination along the way.
Build core skills:Learn and practice wilderness, teamwork and leadership skills. Form a crew that supports and encourages one another, and in the thick of challenges, discover there is more in you than you know.
Practice Outward Bound values: Learn to incorporate Outward Bound values into everyday life by pushing your own limits and seeking challenge as an opportunity for personal growth.
Demonstrate mastery:As the course nears the end, take on more leadership and decision-making responsibilities. Work together to apply new skills and achieve team goals during this final expedition phase of the expedition.
What you’ll learn: Return home a stronger, more resilient individual. Discover increased self-confidence, improved leadership, and a desire to make a difference.
Photo courtesy
of Jack Klim
Mountaineering
Mountaineering is perhaps the most rugged and exciting form of backcountry travel. On this course, students will practice mountaineering techniques like kicking steps, glissading and ascending fixed lines over mixed routes of snow, ice and rock. As the course progresses, students use backpacking skills to travel into remote technical terrain where they’ll use ice axes and advanced techniques to reach summits 13,000 feet or even 14,000 feet in elevation. The challenges are significant but the rewards are great.
Rock Climbing
Rock climbing is the ultimate opportunity to challenge oneself physically, mentally and emotionally. Students will learn basic climbing techniques, helmet and harness use, climbing commands and belaying, placing gear, setting up top ropes and may have the opportunity to attempt multi-pitch ascents. Learning new body mechanics, balance and energy maintenance techniques help students climb efficiently and unlock the incredible feeling of flowing up a route. There are many ways to climb the same rock, allowing each climber to solve the puzzle in their own way.
Service
Service to people and the environment is a core value of Outward Bound and is integrated into each course. Participants follow Leave No Trace ethics as service to the environment and do acts of service while leading and supporting fellow participants. Designated service projects are coordinated with land managers like the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service to collaborate on land restoration projects. Some projects are more community based, and students may serve at a horse rescue or renovating historic structures. As they see the impact of their actions firsthand, students develop a value of service and transfer this desire to serve their communities back home.
Solo
In order for profound learning to take place, there must be time to reflect on the experience. Weather and time permitting, the Solo experience provides an important break from the rigors of the expedition and gives students the opportunity to reflect on their Outward Bound experience. Many students use this reflection time to make decisions about their future, journal and enjoy the beauty of their surroundings unencumbered by the constant external stimulation of modern life. Solo is that opportunity, and that time can range anywhere from 30 minutes to 24 hours or more, depending on the length of the course as well as the competency and preparedness of the student group.
With all the food, skills and supplies they need, participants are given a secluded spot to reflect alone and are monitored by Instructors at regular intervals, as safety is always a top priority.. Students find that Solo provokes profound and powerful learning in a short period of time and often becomes one of the most memorable parts of their Outward Bound experience.
Final Expedition
The course ends with the Final Expedition, during which the crew heads back into the field to put their newly acquired skills into practice. Depending on the team’s ability levels, Instructors step back during this section and allow the crew to take over decision-making responsibilities for navigation, time schedules, communication and general leadership.
Outcomes
On this 15-day course, Instructors will progressively hand over more of the decision making and leadership of the expedition to students, allowing each person to test the new technical and interpersonal skills learned. Through the dynamics of an evolving group setting, students have more freedom to investigate who they are and how they want to develop personally. All along the way, students will experience a wide variety of some of the most beautiful wilderness in the US and the world.
Photo courtesy
of Jack Klim
Photo courtesy
of Brennen Montgomery
Course Area
The Holy Cross area is found in the Sawatch Range which contains eight of Colorado’s highest peaks. These mountains are known for being massive, rocky yet relatively gentle in contour. Mount of the Holy Cross is known for its distinctive snow formations. During the course, you can expect to travel on and off trail and over wooded and alpine terrain at 9,000 feet or higher, which can be rough, steep and exposed. Lucky students may encounter elk, mule deer or even moose.These regions are the ancestral lands of the Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute) and Cheyenne nations.
SAMPLE ITINERARY
DAY 1
Course start
DAY 2-6
Training section: backpacking and rock climbing
DAY 7-11
Main section: mountaineering, Solo and at least one technical peak attempt
DAY 12-13
Final section: opportunities for the group to lead the expedition
DAY 14
Final Challenge Event and course end celebration
DAY 15
Transportation home
Testimonial
"I cannot begin to describe the feeling of triumph and elation when I crested that pass. I stood on a saddle between two peaks marveling at the beauty before me, knowing that I could do whatever I put my mind to from that moment on. And even though I still struggled at times on the rest of the trip, I knew in my mind that it was nothing compared to what I had triumphed over on that pass. A piece of inhibition had broken free inside me, and I was faced with the revelation that I could do absolutely anything I put my mind to." - Elias Hudson, Outward Bound alumni